<p>When I took the ACT for the 2nd time yesterday, I didn't struggle with any Math, Science, or English questions. But on the Reading section, I barely covered two passages. I had to guess about 50% of the questions.</p>
<p>Is an average test taker not expected to complete the reading section of the test in the given time?</p>
<p>What are some strategies that I can use next time to be quicker?</p>
<p>Also, what would be my reading score if I only got like 60% of the answers right?</p>
<p>prob low 20’s</p>
<p>I’ve done a lot of research on the reading portion and the best strategies i’ve found are really simple but make a big difference. For one, I alwasy save Prose Fiction for last, it is always the hardest passage and takes the most time so you’re better of getting easy points elsewhere. Also, skim the passages. Just read the first and last sentence of each paragraph (maybe a few words in-between) and read the whole last paragraph if it’s short. Make sure to mark up your book too. Write a word or two to the side of each paragraph that will help you remember what it’s about. That way you will know where to find the information if a question asks for it, but you won’t have to remember useless stuff. Sorry this post is so long but these strategies really helped me. I went from a 30 to a 36 on this section–and the 36 is consistent. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>jbake - did you get a 36 on the actual ACT test for the reading section?
Do you refer back to the passage for every question?</p>
<p>Hey! So a lot of people will say “Read the first and last sentence of every paragraph” Don’t do that!! Soooo many questions in both the reading and science section are not even inferring, they are literally directly from the passage.
Here is my advice: you have thirty-five minutes. Work in order, and read through the whole passage. carefully. It takes way more time to skim, then read the questions, then continue to go back and forth between the passage and the questions. IF you carefully read the passage, which should maybe take about 5 minutes to read, then you willl be able to quickly answer each questions.</p>
<p>This really really worked for me. The first time, I skimmed and got a 27. Then I tried doing what I told you to do above and I received a 36 on the actual test.</p>
<p>I really really disagree with the person above. It works on the SAT because the SAT is more inferring. But this advice works on both reading and science.
Think about taking a test in your lang test about a chapter you read the night before or something. If you thorougly read it, a multiple choice test the next day will be easy and quickly completed. If you thoroughly read these passages, you will understand exactly what the question is asking and will know probably 85% of the answers without even having to look back.</p>
<p>I have trouble with the reading questions on test day…</p>